Alarm apparatus



y 6- B. GOLDSTONE 2,041,540

ALARM APPARATUS I Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI 512mm:(iows'rons BY H l 5 ATTORNEY JW/CQM y B. GOLDSTONE 2,041,540

ALARM APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wl FIG.2 I Z mm. i7 l fiaf "I INVENTOR BENJAMIN GQLDfiTONE BY HIS ATTORNEY May 19, 1936.B, GOLDSTQNE 2,()41,540

ALARM APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3 an INVENTORBENJAMIN C-zoLvsTomz BY HlS -ATTORNEY v Patented May 19, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to alarm systems.

In the operation of burglar alarm systems, or systems of similarcharacter, it has been customary practice to use, for the power source,some means, such as a battery, which, during the effectiveness of thecircuit, was subjected to a constant drain. These batteries, therefore,required replacement at frequent intervals, and account for high costofupkeep as to maintenance, supervision and replacement, as well aspossible failure of the system to operate when the batteriesdeteriorated.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which a localpower source, such as the common house lighting circuit, may be used asthe main or primary power medium for the operation of the system, thesystem also including a secondary power source which, upon failure ofthe primary source, becomes immediately active to energize the systemwithout the initiation of an alarm unless there has been tampering withthe system in this period. For this purpose, the ordinary house lightingalternating current cables may be used as the primary source, astep-down transformer, if necessary, being interposed to regulate thevoltage applied to the circuit. As one element of the system, there isprovided a relay which operates so quickly that the drop, ordinarilyused in such systems to complete the alarm circuit, will be delayedsufliciently in its action so that the secondary power source will havebecome active to energize the coil of the drop before its armature couldhave dropped to create an alarm, thus retaining it uninterruptedly inthe normal position of the system where there has been no outsideinterference.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the typedescribed which may be applied both for circuits devised to initiate analarm when the protective circuit is broken, or when a portion of suchcircuit is short-circuited.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system of the characterset forth in which a control switch, provided to make the circuiteffective, is operated in such manner that no alarm will be created bythe closing of the switch, when making the system operative, even thoughthe primary source be inoperative at that time.

Other objects of this invention'will be hereinafter set forth, or willbe apparent from the description and the drawings, in which areillustrated a number of embodiments of apparatus for carrying out theinvention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to theparticular constructions and arrangements of parts, the particularapplications of such constructions, the specific methods of operation,nor to the various details thereof, herein shown and described, as thesame may be modified in various particulars or be applied in many variedrelations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the practical embodiments illustrated and described merely being attempts to show some of the various forms and modifications in which theinvention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout, and in which are disclosed the preferredembodiments,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified system. v

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modified system. Fig. 4 is a Viewin perspective of a switch box with which are associated the principalelements of the circuit. 5

Considering the system shown in Fig. 1, the dotted. lines [0 areintended to indicate the boundaries of a switch box [2, while the dottedlines I4 are intended to indicate the door l6 of that 7 box. In box l2may be mounted a panel [8 upon which are assembled relays 20, 22 and 24,and. also a resistance element 26. On the door is intended to be mounteda switch 28, controlled by any suitable lock mechanism (not shown), andthe signal bulbs 30 and 32, visible through suit- '35 able openingsthrough the door.

For the operation of this apparatus, there are provided two distinctpower sources 34 and 36. Power source 34 is here shown as a step-downtransformer for applying the requisite voltage as power is drawn fromlines 40. Power source 36 may be a battery. However, it is to beunderstood that the two power sources may take any desiredcharacteristic form so long as source '34 is of the type capable ofsupplying substantially unlimited power at all times, and source 36 isof the type not subject togreat deterioration owing to the age and fromlack of use. The source 36, in'this instance, is intended to operate thealarm creating device 44, but it is to be understood that the systemmight be rearranged so that device 44 would be actuated from source 34when that source is eifective. a

Leads from source 34 are carried over to a pair of binding posts 46 and48 upon panel I8.

From binding post 46, a lead is taken to a point 50 on a bar 52 ofswitch 28, this bar being moved by the lock mechanism (not shown). Thestationary contact 54 opposed to point 50 is connected, by a lead 56, tothe coil 58 of relay 20. The other terminal of the coil is led back tobinding post 48 by means of a lead 60, which also makes contact with oneterminal of resistance element 26. When switch 28 is moved to closedposition, a current will flow through coil 58, which will attract anarmature 62. This armature is preferably of considerable weight, and ispivoted at 64 so that it will normally tend to fall downwardly at oneend to bring a contact finger 68 at the other end into electricalcontact with a stop I0.

When coil 58 is energized, the armature will be lifted so that contactfingers I2 and I4 will be brought into engagement with respective stopsI6 and 18. A branch lead from lead 56 makes electrical connection withstops I6 and I8, while the armature itself, by a lead 82, is connectedto a binding post 84 to which one terminal of the house protectivecircuit 86 is connected. This protective circuit may be of any generalconstruction, following the well known practice. Its other terminal isconnected to a binding post 88 from which a lead is extended to the coil96 of relay 22, which is commonly known as the drop. The other terminalof coil 90 is electrically connected with lead 60.

When relay 20 is energized by a current flowing from power source 34,armature 62 will automatically place in circuit with source 34, theseries connected drop 22 and the house circuit 86. If circuit 86 bebroken, coil 90 will be deenergized. While the coil has been energized,it has attracted an armature 92 forming a part of, or otherwise securedto, a leaf spring 94, one end of which, by lead 96, is connected to abinding post 98 to which one terminal of source 36 is connected. Theother terminal of this source is connected to a binding post I 00. Fromthis binding post, a lead I02 is carried over to another binding post I04, to which one terminal of alarm device 44 may be connected. The otherterminal of the device, which may be the customary gong, is connected toa binding post I08 from which a lead H0 is directed to a stationarycontact H2 cooperating with a moving point H4 upon bar 52. This point,by a lead H6, is connected to a post H8 with which the free end ofspring 94 will make contact when coil 90 is inactive to draw armature 92toward it.

When the protective circuit 86 is not energized, spring 94 will switchsource 36 into circuit with the gong to initiate an alarm. Of course itis necessary that switch 28 be in closed position in order to effectthis. Also, it will be noted that, in order to prevent an alarm when theswitch is being closed, it is necessary that coil 90 be energized beforethe alarm circuit is completed. For that reason, the points on movingbar 52 are arranged so that, in moving the bar toward the stationarycontacts, first point 50 will complete its circuit before either one ofthe others is affected. For this reason, if source 34 is operative, coil90 will be energized and the circuit of the alarm device broken at postH8 before point H4 electrically connects with contact H2.

However, if power source 34, for any particular reason, is inactive,secondary source 36 must be placed in circuit before the alarm circuitis completed. For this purpose, point I20 upon bar 52 is arranged toconnect electrically with its stationary contact I22 before contact H2and point H4 are electrically connected, and after the circuit has beencompleted between contact 54 and point 56. Point I26 is connected by alead I24 with binding post I68, while stationary contact I22 isconnected, by a lead I26, to lead 60. The points 50, I20 and H4preferably are made up as U-shaped spring members, one arm of each beingsecured to the bar 52.

Stop I0, by means of a lead I28, is connected to lead 96. When armature62 is resting so that finger 68 is in contact with stop I0, the circuitwill be completed from the armature through the post, lead I28, lead 96,source 36, lead I24, the switch, leads I26 and 60, coil 90, protectivecircuit 86, lead 82, to the armature, thus energizing relay 22 in thesame manner as Was done by power source 34. It will be seen that if,after power source 34 has been made active, it should fail for anyreason, the weighted armature 62 will operate to bring finger 68 intoelectrical connection with stop 16, completing the circuit of source 36.As can readily be noted, there is a wide difference in weights betweenarmatures 62 and 92. Armature 62, as it moves about its pivot 64, andespecially in the downward movement under gravitational force, will havea greater force to overcome such retarding forces as friction at itspivots than armature 92 Will have to overcome retarding forces actingupon it, such as the resiliency of spring 98. The retarding tension uponspring 94 and its sustained position, by adjustment of post H8 and theupper stop post I30, are regulated so that, upon fall of armature 92,the period of time necessary for spring 94 to make contact with post H8will be greater than that necessary for armature 62 to move finger 68into contact with stop I0; the circuit of source 36 will, therefore,have been completed before spring 94 will have had the opportunity tocomplete the circuit for alarm device 44.

Relay 24 provides a holding circuit for retaining the alarm circuitenergized, once a break has been made in the protective circuit, eventhough the break may have been repaired. Branch leads I32 and I34 aretaken from binding posts I04 and I66, respectively, to the coil I36 ofrelay 24. Should the protective circuit be broken and the alarm circuitenergized by the fall of armature 92, a portion of the same currentwhich would pass through alarm device 44 will act to energize coil I36,attracting armature I38 which is secured to a spring finger I40, securedbetween a tension adjusting means I42. Normally the free end of finger48 rests upon a stop I44, When coil I36 is energized, however, thisfinger will be lifted into contact with a post I46, which, by a leadI48, is connected to lead H6. With coil I36 energized, current fromsource 36 will flow through lea-d 96, branch lead I56, spring fingerI40, contact post I46, leads I46 and H6, the switch, and then willdivide, after lead H0, to pass through alarm device 44 and. coil I36,and back to source 36 through lead I62, In other words, coil I36 willmaintain its own energizing circuit as well as the energizing circuitfor the alarm device.

In order to indicate to the user which of the two power sources isactive, bulbs 30 and 32 are provided, bulb 30 being intended to indicatethat primary source 34 is operative,,and the bulb 32, the other source.One terminal of bulb S0 is connected, by a lead I52, to resistanceelement 26, while the other terminal, by a lead I54, connects with lead56 and stationary post 54. Its circuit will, therefore, be completedthrough lead I52, resistance 26, lead 60, source 34, the switch, andleads 56 and I54.

In order to light bulb 32, there is provided, in conjunction with relay20', an armature I56, preferably disposed at the end of coil 58 oppositearmature 62. Armature I56 is mounted upon a spring finger I58, whichnormally tends, under the action of tension adjusting mechanism I 60, tomake electrical contact with post I62. Post I62, by a lead I64, isconnected to one terminal of bulb 32, while the anchor post I66 forspring I58 is connected, by a lead I68, to binding post 98. When coil 58is not energized by power from source 34, the circuit from bulb 32 willbe completed through lead I64, post I62, spring I58, lead I68, source36, lead I24, the switch, to the bulb through leads I26 and I10.

It will be noted that, when power source 34 becomes inactive, thebattery source is immediately placed in circuit to operate the entireapparatus, without the danger of initiating an alarm unless there hasbeen tampering with the protective circuit. Also, during the action ofpower source 34, battery source 36 is so protected that 'no part of thecurrent from source 34 will pass therethrough, and, therefore, will beunable to effect deterioration of such cells as normally make up batterypower sources.

In Fig. 2 has been shown apparatus whereby the alarm, will be initatednot only by breaking a portion of the alarm circuit, but if a shortcircuit of any portion thereof should be effected. In this apparatus,there is provided a panel I12 upon which are mounted the operatingelements of the relay switching circuits, and a door I14 for carrying aswitch I16, similar to switch 28 in its structure. Upon the panel aremounted relays I18, I80 and I82. One terminal of coil I84 of relay I18is connected, by a lead I86, to a binding post I88 to which one terminalof the primary source I90 is connected The other terminal of source I90is connected to a binding post I92, which, by a lead I94, isconnected'to a stationary post I96 opposite a moving point I98 on bar200' of the switch. This point, by a lead 202, is connected to the otherterminal of the coil.

When coil I84 is energized, it attracts an unbalanced armature 204 tobring fingers 206 and 208 into electrical connection with theirrespective stop posts and 2 I0 and 2 I2. These posts, by a lead 2I4, areconnected to, and receive power from lead I86 and transmit it throughthe armature to a lead 2I6, led from the armature to a point 2 I 8 uponbar 200. The complementary stationary post 220 is connected by a lead toa binding post 222 upon the panel which constitutes one terminal of aportion 224 of the protective circuit 226. The other terminal of thisportion is carried to a binding post 228 from which a lead is connectedto coil 230 of relay or drop I 82.

The other terminal of the coil is connected to lead 232, extending to abinding post 234 forming a terminal for the other portion 236 of thehouse protective circuit. Portion 236 is also connected to a bindingpost 238 which is electrically connected to lead I94. The circuit of thehouse protective circuit, therefore, consists of power source I90, leadsI86 and. 2I4, posts 2I0 and 2I2, armature 204, lead 2I6, the switch,binding post 222, portion 224, coil 230, lead 232, portion 236 and leadI94. Any break in the house protective circuit will deenergize the coil230'; also, any

short circuit between portions 224 and 236 will prevent the passage ofcurrent through, and thus effect deenergization of, coil 230.

Coil 230, upon energization, attracts an armature 240, fixed to a springmember 242, anchored at 244 and electrically connected, by a lead 246,to a binding post 248 which provides one ter-' minal for a secondarypower source 250. The other terminal of this power source is connectedto a binding post 252 which is also connected to a binding post 254,providing one terminal for a gong or similar device 256. The otherterminal of the gong is connected, by a lead 258, to a binding post 260from which a lead 262 is taken'to the stationary contact 264 oppositethe point 266 of the switch. A lead 268 then makes connection with apost 210 with which spring member 242 makes contact when coil 230 is notactive to attract armature 240. When the circuit of gong 256 has beencompleted by the fall of armature 240, coil 212 of relay I80 is alsoenergized from the branch circuit consisting of a lead 214 connectingwith post 254, and a lead 216 connecting with binding post 260.

When coil 212 is energized, it attracts its armature 218 to bring aspring finger 280 into contact with a. post 282 which is connected, by abranch lead 284, to binding post 260. When there has been anyinterference with the system at the portions of the house protectivecircuit, and the drop has been actuated to complete the circuit betweenmember 242 and its complementary post, and gong 256 has been actuated,coil 212, by this branch circuit, will have become energized to attractarmature 218. Thereupon, power will flow from source 250 to springfinger 280, post 282, and lead 284, and then will divide to pass throughgong 256 or through lead 216, coil 212, lead 214, back to the source.Coil 212 thus constitutes its own holding means for its own circuit toretain the gong ringing.

If power source I90 should become inactive, armature 204 will bringfinger 286 into contact With post 288 from which a lead 290 connectswith lead 246. serve to operate drop I82 in the same manner as did powersource I90.

In order to prevent the initiation of an alarm upon closing the switch,points I98, 2I8 and 266 are arranged to make their contacts with therespective stationary contacts so that, first power source I90 is placedin circuit, then the protec tive circuit, and finally the gong or alarmcircuit. In other words, before source 250 may become active, powersource I90 must have been placed in circuit, and the house circuit alsocompleted so that there should arise no possibility of activity on thepart of the drop to create an alarm. Bulbs 292 and 294 are provided, andthey are wired similarly to those of Fig. l, to indicate which of thetwo sources is active,

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, relays 286, 298, 300 and 302 arearranged upon panel 304, while upon door 306 is assembled a'switch 308,similar in structure to the switches of the other constructions. In thisarrangement, a primary power source 3I0 has its terminals connected tobinding posts 3I2 and 3I4 upon the panel. From binding post 3| 2 thereis led a trunk 3I6 from which branch leads 3I8 and 320 tap a supply forrelays 296 and 298, respectively. The other terminals of these relaysare connected to a trunk 322 which is led around, through a binding post324, to a point 326 on the moving bar 328 of the switch. This point isintended to In this position, source 250 will make contact with astationary contact 336 from which a trunk 332' leads to a binding post334 upon the panel, and then to binding post 3I4.

By this means, the two relays, upon closing the switch, are energized toattract their respective armatures 336 and 338. Each of these armaturesis pivotally mounted in unbalanced condition, so that, when the relaysare not energized, they will assume the positions indicated in Fig. 3.For armature 336, this position would bring a spring finger 346 intocontact with a stop post 342, while for armature 338, a spring finger344 is brought into contact with a stop post 346. When relays 296 and298 are energized, armatures 336 and 338 are active to break theconnection between spring fingers 346 and 344 and their respective stopposts. Armature 336, by such movement, will be energized to bring springfinger 348 into contact with a stop post 356.

Armature 338 carries two spring fingers 352 and 354 which, when relay298 is energized, will be pressed into contact with stop posts 356 and358, respectively. These stop posts are connected by a branch lead 366with trunk 3|6, while armature 338 itself is connected, by a lead 362,with a binding post 364 which forms one terminal for a portion 366 ofthe house protective circuit 368. The other terminal of this portion isconnected to binding post 316, which, by a lead 312, is connected torelay 366. A lead 314 from this relay is connected to binding post 316forming a terminal of the other portion 318 of the house protectivecircuit. The other terminal of this portion is at binding post 386 fromwhich a lead 382 is directed to make electrical connection with armature336.

When relays 296 and 298 are energized by power source 3 l 6, currentwill flow from the power source, through trunk 3|6, branch lead 360,stop posts 356 and 358, armature 338, lead 362, portion 366, lead 312,relay 366, lead 314, portion 318, lead 382, armature 336, post 356,trunk 322, the switch, trunk 332, to the power source.

If any break be made in either of portions 366 or 318, or if an attemptbe made to create a shirt circuit between these two portions, relay 366will be deenergized, resulting in the fall of armature 384, which iscarried by a spring 386, the end of which has been retained by thearmature against stop 368. This spring, by a lead 396, is connected tothe stationary contact 392, the mov-- ing point 394 of which isconnected, by a trunk 396, to binding post 398 forming one of theterminals for a secondary power source 466. The other terminal 462 ofthis power source is connected to the moving point 464 opposite thestationary contact 466 on the switch. From contact 466, a lead 468 isconnected to post 4l6 which is the terminal of gong M2. The otherterminal of the gong is connected to binding post 4l4 which, by a trunkM6, is connected to stop post 4I8 against which spring 386 abuts whenrelay 366 is deenergized.

Thus, when relay 366 is deenergized, spring 386 will close the circuitfrom source 466 through the switch, lead 468, gong 4l2, trunk 4I6, post4l8, spring 386, lead 396, the switch, and trunk 396. In order to holdthe ringing circuit closed after a break or other interference with theprotective circuit has occurred, relay 362 is energized by a branch lead426 leading from trunk 422 which is connected to binding post M6. Theother terminal of relay 362 is connected, by a lead 424, to post 4. Inother words, when the gong is energized by the fall of armature 384,relay 362 will also be energized by its branch circuit to attractarmature 426, carried upon spring 428 which normally rests upon stop436. When attracted by the relay, spring 428 will make electricalconnection with a stop 432, which, by a branch lead 434, is connected totrunk 416. Spring 428 itself, by a branch lead 436, is connected totrunk 396. This holding circuit is substantially similar to that of thearrangements previously described.

If power source 3|6 should become inactive, armatures 336 and 338 willdrop. In such case, fingers 346 and 344 will be brought into electricalconnection with their respective stop posts 342 and 346. Now, currentwill flow from battery 466 through the switch, lead 468, trunk 422, stoppost 342, armature 336, lead 382, portion 318, lead 314, relay 366, lead312, portion 366, lead 362, armature 338, stop post 346, trunk 438 backto the battery. Now, if any break or short circuit be made in, or acrossthe protective circuit, relay 366 will be deenergized in the same manneras if power source 3|6 had been active, actuating gong 4| 2 in the samemanner.

Indicating light bulbs 446 and 442 are provided and indicaterespectively whether power source 3!!! or source 466 is operating topass current through the house protective circuit. Bulb 446 is incircuit with resistance unit 444, which, by a lead 446, is connected tobinding post 312. The other terminal of the bulb is connected to trunk322 by a lead 448 so that, when source 3|6 is operating, bulb 446 willbe lighted.

When source 3|6 is inoperative, relay 298 will no longer attract anarmature 456 upon a spring 452, which is so tensioned that, in normalrelation, it will be in contact with a stop post 454. However, relay298, when source 3|6 is effective, will pull the spring away from thisstop post. The spring itself is connected to trunk 422 by lead 456,while the stop post, by a lead 458, is connected to the bulb. The otherterminal of the bulb is connected to trunk 438 by a lead 466.

The points 326, 464 and 394 are arranged to' make contact with theirrespective contact posts in the order named for purposes previouslyindicated.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular apparatusdesigned, and in the methods of operation set forth, and in the specificdetails thereof, without substantially departing from the inventionhereof which is intended to be defined in the accompanying claims, thespecific description hereinabove being set forth merely to illustrateoperative embodiments for carrying out the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, analternating current power source, a direct current power source, aswitch-over relay, a heavy armature for the switch-over relay pivotallymounted in an unbalanced state, the armature being in the protectivecircuit, the switch-over relay normally being energized by thealternating current power source to maintain the armature raised againstgravitational force and thus to keep the armature and the protectivecircuit in circuit with the alternating current power source; thearmature comprising means, when the alternating current power source isdeenergized, to move to cut the alternating current power source out ofcircuit with the protective circuit and the armature, and to bring thedirect current power source into circuit with both armature andprotective circuit; and a drop relay in the protective circuit, the droprelay having a relatively light armature for controlling thealarm-producing means, the movements of the armatures for making orbreaking their circuits being limited, the limits of the movements beingdefined so that, in such circuit-making or circuit-breaking movements,they will, at substantially the same instant, be freed for movement, butthe switch-over relay armature will complete its circuit before the droprelay armature may become effective.

2. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, analternating current power source, a direct current power source, aswitch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current source;the protective circuit including a drop relay and. means normallytending, under the force of gravity, to energize the protective circuitfrom the direct current power source but, under the normal energizationof the switch-over relay, being controlled to energize the protectivecircuit from the alternating current source; means actuated by the droprelay for controlling the alarm-producing means, the drop-relay-actuatedmeans normally tending under the force of gravity to make thealarmproducing means effective, the protective-circuitenergizing meansincluding a pivoted member of such large mass that gravity acts withgreater force to turn it about its pivot than the forces acting upon thedrop-relay-actuated means to move it to circuit-closing position, theturning of the pivoted member about its pivot and the action of thedrop-relay-actuated means being limited, the limits and the relationbetween the action of the forces of gravity being such that the pivotedmember will have completed its movement before the droprelay-actuatedmeans can make the alarm-producing means eifective.

3. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, analternateing current power source, a direct current power source, aswitch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current powersource, means controlled by the switch-over relay in accordance with theenergy derivable from the alternating current power source fordetermining whether the alternating current power source or the directcurrent power source shall energize the protective circuit; the meanscontrolled by the switch-over relay comprising means, when energy forthe switch-over relay is not derived from the alternating current powersource, to cut the alternating current power source out of circuit withthe protective circuit, and to bring the direct current power sourceinto circuit with the protective circuit; and switching apparatus forfirst switching on the alternating current power source, thereaftermaking the direct current power source effective, and then making thealarm-producing means effective so that it may produce an alarm undercontrol of the protective circuit.

4. In alarm apparatus, a protective circuit, alarm-producing means, analternating current power source, a direct current power source, aswitch-over relay normally energized by the alternating current powersource, means controlled by the switch-over relay in accordance with theenergy derivable from the alternating current power source fordetermining whether the alternating current power source or the directcurrent power source shall energize the protective circuit; the meanscontrolled by the switch-over relay comprising means, when energy forthe switch-over relay is not derived from the alternating current powersource, to cut the alternating current power source out of circuit withthe protective circuit, and to bring the direct current power sourceinto circuit with the protective circuit; and switching apparatus forfirst switching the power sources to make them effective for the controlof the means controlled by the switchover relay before thealarm-producing means may be made effective.

BENJAMIN GOLDSTONE.

